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2022 Plan

Overview

The Department of Public Service (PSD) is updating the Vermont Comprehensive Energy Plan (CEP) and Electric Plan. The Department will host a series of public engagement activities to garner insights and comments from citizens and stakeholders around the state. The following plan describes the public engagement activities that will be undertaken over the next year leading to the final publication of the CEP in January 2022. More details can be found in the "Updates" section below.

The Comprehensive Energy Plan is required by 30 V.S.A. § 202b and the Vermont Electric Energy Plan is required by 30 V.S.A. § 202. The Electric Energy Plan will be contained in the CEP, which is required to be submitted to the General Assembly no later than January 15, 2022. The PSD will coordinate closely with other state agencies and the newly constituted Climate Council created through the Global Warming Solutions Act (Act 153 of 2020)  to ensure that the CEP advances policy objectives across multiple areas.

Public Engagement Opportunities

For the draft CEP to reflect current understanding of the state’s energy challenges, opportunities, and direction, the PSD will solicit public, expert, and stakeholder input through the summer of 2021. This public input may be submitted to the Department in the form of written comments, or via public meetings and smaller events with individuals and stakeholders representing a wide variety of perspectives. Public input for the 2022 update of the CEP will be solicited by the PSD in two phases:

  • Public process and input to inform the writing of the draft CEP in spring 2021
  • Public process and comment after the release of the draft CEP in fall 2021

Throughout the revision process for updating the CEP, the Department will provide access to draft documents, schedules for upcoming events, relevant meeting materials and other CEP-related information on this webpage.

WRITTEN COMMENTS: As part of the public comment process, the Department will accept written comments at PSD.ComprehensiveEnergyPlan@vermont.gov, and also by US mail.

Updates

December 23, 2021: Written Comments Available for Review

Written comments on the draft CEP are available for review at this link.

December 2, 2021: Reminder - Public Hearings for Comment on Draft Plan

In-person public hearings will take place in St. Johnsbury, Randolph, Rutland, Brattleboro, and Williston over the next two weeks.

Dates and locations are listed on the webpage for the draft plan.

November 19, 2021: Draft Plan Released for Public Comment  

The draft 2022 Comprehensive Energy Plan (CEP) is now available. The PSD seeks public comments on the draft plan until December 20, 2021.

The Plan and Executive Summary are available on the Release of the Draft 2022 Comprehensive Energy Plan webpage.

Online public meetings are scheduled for November 30 and December 1 (registration required), and in-person public hearings will take place in St. Johnsbury, Randolph, Rutland, Brattleboro, and Williston. 

September 20, 2021: Public Meetings on the Vermont Climate Action Plan  

The Department of Public Service coordinated with the Vermont Climate Council on a series of public meetings in September and October to garner comments from participants regarding both the Climate Action Plan (CAP), which is now available from the Climate Council and the Comprehensive Energy Plan (CEP) being developed by the PSD. In August, the PSD coordinated with the Climate Council on a series of Technical Workshops focused on electricity, buildings/thermal sector, and transportation.  

October meetings 
  • Tuesday, October 5, 2021, 6-7:30 pm: Virtual event via Zoom for BIPOC communities
September meetings

For more information about the Climate Action Plan, please visit the State of Vermont's Climate Change in Vermont webpage. Event details can be found at the Get Involved webpage. 

August meetings 

During August, the Department hosted a series of sector-specific technical workshops, in partnership with members of the Cross-Sector Mitigation Subcommittee of the Vermont Climate Council, to support the development of the Comprehensive Energy Plan and Climate Action Plan. Videos of these forums are now linked below.

Each workshop included a mix of presentations and facilitated discussion sessions. The dates, draft agendas, and participation details for the forums follow:

  • Electric Sector Workshop: August 10, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Agenda

Video

Slides

Summary Notes

​​The Department respectfully requests that participants in workshops review the Etiquette Guidelines for Vermont Comprehensive Energy Plan Public Meetings.

June meetings

The Department hosted four virtual regional forums focused on energy planning efforts by Regional Planning Commissions and municipalities. The forums were specifically designed for those involved in energy planning efforts at the local level, to provide input on the key energy issues, elements, challenges, and considerations unique to their area of Vermont. The dates and participation details for the forums follow:​

  • Southeastern Forum: June 1, 2021 4:00 to 6:00 PM
    • Mount Ascutney Regional Commission
    • Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission

    • Windham Regional Commission

      Agenda
      Slides
      Video

  • Northern Forum: June 2, 2021 4:00 to 6:00 PM

    • Northeastern Vermont Development Association
    • Lamoille County Planning Commission
    • Northwest Regional Planning Commission

      Agenda
      Slides
      Video

  • Southwestern Forum: June 8, 2021 4:00 to 6:00 PM

    • Addison County Regional Planning Commission
    • Rutland Regional Planning Commission
    • Bennington County Regional Commission

      Agenda
      Slides
      Video

  • Central Forum: June 28, 2021 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

    • Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission
    • Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission

      Agenda
      Slides
      Video

  • The Zoom information for all four forums is:

The Department also respectfully requests that participants review the Etiquette Guidelines for Vermont Comprehensive Energy Plan Public Meetings.

Request for Proposals

The Department extended the window for questions and answers under the Request for Proposals for the Public Involvement Facilitator (see below). The new deadline for questions to be received by PSD is Thursday, February 25, 2021. PSD will respond to questions by Friday, February 26, 2021. The deadline for submissions has been extended to Wednesday, March 3, 2021.

  • February 5, 2021: The Department issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a qualified contractor to provide highly engaged, efficient, and effective process assistance with the solicitation, management, and compilation of public input for the duration of the CEP update process undertaken over the next year, leading to the final publication of the CEP in January 2022.

    Please see the RFP document for details on the anticipated scope of work and timelines needed to obtain stakeholder responses and meet the Department’s statutory obligations.
    -RFP ISSUE DATE:   Friday, February 5, 2021
    -RESPONDENT QUESTIONS DUE:   Friday, February 12, 2021 by 4:30 PM
    -RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS:   Friday, February 19, 2021
    -RESPONDENT PROPOSALS DUE:   Monday, March 1, by 4:30 PM
    -CONTACT: Edward Delhagen, 802-828-4099, ed.delhagen@vermont.gov

​Request for Information
  • January 8, 2021: The deadline for public input in response to the Request for Information has been extended to February 15, 2021. The Request for Information has been updated to reflect the new deadline (no other modifications were made). Comments should be sent to PSD.ComprehensiveEnergyPlan@vermont.gov. 
  • December 8, 2020: The Vermont Public Service Department has issued this Request for Information asking for public input to help update the Vermont Comprehensive Energy Plan (CEP) required by 30 V.S.A. §202b. This is an opportunity for the public to participate in identifying and clarifying policy and technology pathways to reach Vermont’s energy goals. The Department welcomes comments on the above issues and any others that may be identified. Please send written comments by February 1, 2021 [this has been extended to February 15, 2021 - see above] to PSD.ComprehensiveEnergyPlan@vermont.gov.